iPhone sales rise in China for the first time since late 2023
New research claims that sales of Apple's iPhone in China grew during the last quarter, giving it growth for the first time in years -- although still not enough to beat local manufacturers.
Apple launched its iPhone 16e during this second quarter
In late June 2024, Apple revealed that a Chinese government subsidy designed to stimulate the economy was likely to give it a sales boost. But now it appears that sales of the iPhone were already rising before the subsidy could have effect.
According to research from Canalys Apple shipped 10.1 million iPhones in the quarter ending June 2025. That's an increase of 4% year over year, and is the first time the iPhone has seen any growth in China since the fourth quarter of 2023.
This latest improvement is all the more significant because in the quarter ending March 2025, shipments of all non-Chinese smartphones were dramatically down. Including Apple, Samsung and others not made by Chinese firms, sales were down almost 50% year over year.
This is not comparing like with like, as these March quarter figures are from a different source, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). Its figures also showed for that quarter that local brands had grown the smartphone market by 6.5% year over year.
How Apple sales compare to its rivals in China -- image credit: Canalys
There is also the fact that March is not usually a significant one for Apple, as it earns its most sales between September and the holiday season. However, in February 2025, Apple launched the lower-cost iPhone 16e.
Canalys, though, claims that overall Apple "strategically adjusted its pricing for the new iPhone 16 series," in this quarter. It did so in order to capitalize on demand during China's "618" shopping season.
This helped with Apple's growth, but it was not enough to raise the company above fifth place. The top spot was taken by Huawei with shipments of 12.2 million, followed by vivo on 11.8 million units shipped.
That's a drop for Apple since a report from Counterpoint in January 2025, which put it at just third. In market share at that time, Huawei was first on 18.1%, but Apple's 17.1% was only just beaten to second place by Xiaomi's 17.2%.
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